1. q-tip | Rated | 24 Dec 2011 | Add A Review

Sylvan Glen golf course opened in the late 1980s and has been exclusively open for guests until 1998, the approximate year when the general public could use the facilities.

Measures 1889m Par 31 with five par 3s ranging from 110-164m and four par 4s ranging from 244-340m. There are no alternate tee mounds to play 18 holes.

Course has a mix of winter ryegrass/fescue grass fairways and teebeds. The tiny-to-small sized bent grass greens are always cut at 5mm high which means it plays very slow. The only exception is the 2nd green which has couch grass.

There are currently 8 bunkers on the course, but there are plans to remove 3 bunkers – the 1st, 4th and the back bunker on the 5th and replace these with grassy mounds. Water hazards come into play on the 5th and 7th holes.

1st-340m – fairway turns 90 degrees right from 200m off the tee with a bunker 10m short right guarding the narrow green. Longest and one of the better holes on the course. Bunker is planned to be replaced with a grassy mound.

2nd-161m – uphill teeshot to a couch grass green.

3rd-244m – straight hole with the flag visible and reachable Par 4 from the tee with a left-sloping fairway to a bunkerless green. Local rule here is a compulsory wait on the tee until the 9th green is clear as you hit over the 9th green to reach the 3rd fairway.

4th-133m – downhill teeshot with a bunker short left. Bunker is planned to be replaced with a grassy mound.

5th-117m – downhill teeshot over one of the storage ponds with 2 bunkers. Back bunker is planned to be replaced with a grassy mound.

6th-164m – the longest and best par 3 with the largest green on the course having a 2-tier front-sloping hollow in the front right corner of the green with a bunker short right. The green is also slightly above the tee mound.

7th-322m – although a short par 4, this is probably the most challenging hole on the course. Dogleg right with ponds on the dogleg corner to avoid off the tee as well as the entire rightside rough which is a water hazard and is thickly vegetated. The green is guarded by a 2 bunkers.

8th-298m – dogleg right with tall trees on the right and a left-sloping fairway off the synthetic grass tee square block. Your approach to the he 12mx12m front-sloping green is uphill and is guarded by a bunker short right.

9th-110m downhill teeshot to a bunkerless green.

Course access is 1.5km over the railway line bridge off Penrose Road in the village of Penrose. Course elevation ranges from 630-660m above sea level.

Penrose has about 250 people and is about 28km south-west of Moss Vale (via Exeter and Bundanoon).

Played here 20/12/2011 with $15 green fees now. Overall, it has better course conditioning and challenges than Gibraltar (formerly known as Bowral Country Club) and Highlands. Highly recommend 9 holes here for all golfers. Very friendly owner too.

2. markinsydney | Rated | 16 Nov 2009 | Add A Review

Played Sylvan Glen again recently (Nov 2009) and the change is miraculous. The fairways and greens are benefiting from some SERIOUS work by the owners, and the results are a compliment to their hard work. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the owners’ laid-back, friendly hospitality. At about 90 minutes from Sydney, this course deserves to be played more often. I know I’ll be back.

3. markinsydney | Rated | 22 Aug 2008 | Add A Review

Played mid-Aug and whilst the greens are atrocious (they’ve introduced lateral drainage which has furrowed them all), we were the only people playing on a sunday afternoon. The owner is lovely, the local border-collie is friendly, the roos get out of the way, and the course is tricky. So if you want a bit of fun, at a reasonable price ($14.50 play all day) I’d recommend the drive, but take your lunch with you.

4. MJR | Rated | 30 Mar 2008 | Add A Review

Played here on a Sunday afternoon and had the whole course to ourselves. Some nice elevated tees, water hazards and an interesting layout, in a nice bush setting. 9 holes, 1930m Par 31 course.